DS has officially
unveiled the all-new DS3 Crossback. Featuring “distinctive sculptural
styling,” the crossover has a prominent grille which is flanked by DS Matrix
LED Vision headlights and vertical LED daytime running lights. The Crossback
also has plastic body cladding, a relatively flat roof and a controversial
‘wave’ accent near the B-pillar.
While the styling won’t win everyone over, the model
has flush-mounted door handles which are similar to the ones used on the Range
Rover Velar. They automatically deploy when the crossover is unlocked and then
retract when the vehicle is locked.
Moving into the cabin, drivers will find a digital
instrument cluster, a head-up display and a 10.3-inch infotainment system.
Other highlights include a flat-bottomed steering wheel, diamond-shaped air
vents and a 12-speaker Focal audio system.
DS didn’t say much else about the interior, but the
boot holds 352 liters)of luggage and the company paid particular
attention to reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels. Speaking of
the latter, “vehicle soundproofing has been taken to a higher level” thanks to
an acoustic windscreen, thicker window glass and thicker metal doors. Since DS wants owners to drive
something “highly personalized,” the DS3 Crossback will be offered with ten
body colors, three roof colors and ten wheel choices.
DS will also offer five Inspiration variants called
DS Montmartre, DS Bastille, DS Performance Line, DS Rivoli and DS Opera. Each
comes equipped with gloss, satin or textured black exterior accents as well as
an upscale interior that features Nappa leather upholstery with pearl or
diamond top-stitching. The cabin also has unique chrome trim and Alcantara
accents.
While the model will be offered with both petrol and
diesel engines, the big news is the electric powertrain in the DS3 Crossback
E-Tense. The model has an electric motor that develops 134 and 260 Nm of torque. This enables the crossover to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 8.7 seconds.
In terms of range, the E-Tense’s 50 kWh lithium-ion
battery will enable drivers to travel more than 300 km on a single
charge according to the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure
(WLTP). In the older NEDC cycle, that’s 450 km. When the battery is depleted, it
can be fully recharged in five hours with a 11kW Wall Box. Drivers who don’t
need the crossover’s full range can give the car an 80% charge in just 30
minutes.
Besides the electric powertrain, the DS3 Crossback
will be offered with petrol and diesel engines. On the petrol side, there will
be three PureTech options with outputs of 98 hp, 128 hp and 152 hp. There will also be two diesel engines with outputs of 98 hp and 128 hp.
On the technology front, the DS3 Crossback will be
offered with the DS Drive Assist system which uses a radar and camera to
provide adaptive cruise control and automatic lane centering. The model also
offers automatic emergency braking, automatic parking and the DS Smart Access
system. The latter allows owners to unlock and start the crossover using the
MyDS app on their smartphone. The DS3 Crossback will debut at the Paris Motor Show later this year
and a launch is scheduled for 2019.
